HENRY DE BROMHEAD revealed he had ‘unfinished business’ in the King George after Envoi Allen’s victory at Down Royal.
The ten-year-old got the better of last year’s fairytale King George VI winner Hewick in the Grade 1 Ladbroke’s Champion Chase, adding an ninth Grade 1 to his name.
Racheal Blackmore was replaced by Darragh O’KeeffeSportsfile
The pair battled it out to the line in a brilliant spectacle, leaving Gordon Elliott’s 8-11 favourite Gerri Colombe trailing thirteen lengths behind.
A lucky Darragh O’Keeffe got the ride as regular jock Racheal Blackmore remains on the sidelines after sustaining a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick at the end of September.
The King George VI Chase on Boxing Day is an itch de Bromhead – who has a Grand National, two Cheltenham Gold Cups and two Champion Hurdles under his belt – has a has yet to scratch.
Envoi Allen, who was one of the Cheveley Park horses dramatically moved from Elliott’s yard in 2021, finished a whopping 51 lengths behind Bravemansgame in the Kempton contest in 2022.
But de Bromhead, 52, admitted he could not keep the elusive Boxing Day showpiece from his mind.
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He said: “He’s 10 now, so we’ll see. That King George keeps coming back into my head, I feel we have unfinished business there.
“I need to speak to Cheveley Park and see what everyone would like to do.
“He was going to run at Christmas [in the Savills Chase last year], I think the ground just went very testing in Leopardstown.”
“It was brilliant and he is just a class horse. Everyone at home has done such a great job.
“Obviously, it is a shame for Rachael, but delighted for Darragh, he gave him a super ride and he has really stepped up. Fair play to him, he is taking his opportunities.
“Cheveley Park [Stud, owners] are tremendous supporters of ours and the game, so delighted for them as well.”
When asked if this could have been the best performance of his three runs in this race, De Bromhead said: “Possibly, fair point. He was brilliant and jumped great. He travelled so well.
“Probably better ground than last year I would have said as well. That would have helped us.
“I thought when we got under the last, we were going to get done again, but he battled really well. I must say I thought Darragh was brilliant on him.”
Envoi Allen is currently hovering around 16-1 for the King George, a long way behind hot favourite Il Est Francais, who is 7-2.
Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow and Willie Mullins’ Fact To File are second and third favourite respectively, with Hewick, Jonbon and Gaelic Warrior all in the mix below that.
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